Chapter Eighteen

Sara and Nick arrived at the hotel shortly before Sofia and Greg pulled up behind them. Sara waved to Greg, and gave Sofia a small smile. She returned the greeting, yet her face still looked forced.

"Okay," said Nick, waiting until they were all assembled together in a group. "Sara and I will talk to the manager. Sofia, Greg, show a picture of the vic to employees, see if anyone around here knows him." They both nodded, and headed off to speak with employees.

OoOoOoO

The two criminalists walked to the check-in desk, gearing up for a talk with the manager. "Excuse me, miss…?" Nick asked, holding up his badge.

"Dorthy," she answered. "Dorthy Mandel." Her gaze moved from the badge in Nick's hand to Sara's face, and then to Nick's. She grinned. "Are you back already?" she asked, turning to stare at Sara once more.

"Excuse me?" Sara asked, confused.

"You were here last night. With some old guy. Was he not good enough? Because, if I do say so myself, today's guy is way better looking than the guy who brought you here last night. Well, anyway, you can't have the same room as last night. There was a murder next door. Hell, if I'd given the two of you that room, you could've died. But it's been taped off. I could get you two another one on a different floor, if you want…"

"Stop." Sara was annoyed. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Dorthy looked surprised. "Why, you. Last night." Realization hit her. "Oh my God, you don't remember, do you? He didn't drug you, did he?"

Sara had no idea what the hell this woman was going on about, but it was starting to unnerve her. She didn't remember – Shit. Now she knew what Dorthy was talking about. It came crashing down, all around her, like a tidal wave.

Talking in Grissom's office. The staff meeting. Talking with Sofia. Running out of the lab. Walking away from Grissom. Them standing in the rain. Being led to the hotel. Talking in their room, facing some of their problems. An attempt at sleep. Being awoken by the sound of gunshots. Trying to help the victims, Grissom saying no, that he loved her. Waiting for a CSI call to come. The trip back to the lab, and the fight between Brass and Grissom. Her leaving the hotel…

The events of the night before swam in her mind. Quickly pushing the thoughts away, she knew she needed to do some serious damage control. She didn't need an outside source planting seeds into Nick's head about her and Grissom's relationship.

"Dorthy," Sara said politely. "I'm sorry. But you've got the wrong woman. I wasn't here last night. In fact, I haven't been here in over seven years. So you're confusing me with someone else."

"No dear," she argued. "It was you here last night. You walked in with him, from the rain. An older man, salt and pepper beard… and really, really blue eyes. And you…"

"Dorthy!" Nick said over her. Holding out his badge again, he continued, "My name is Nick Stokes, and this is Sara Sidle. We're from the Las Vegas Crime Lab. We're here to investigate that murder on the third floor. And we would like to speak to the manager."

Dorthy gave Sara one last look before turning to Nick. "No can do, Mr. Stokes. Don's not here."

Sara and Nick exchanged glances before Sara said, "Not here? Where is he?"

"Don? On vacation to Hawaii." She gazed at the two in front of her, and connected the dots. "I'm not stupid. Don's been in Hawaii for two weeks now. He hasn't even been informed of the… incident. It's his planned vacation time. He and his family always go on vacation for long amounts of time. It's tradition."

"Oh, right," said Nick. "Well, we're just going to have a look around." He took Sara's arm and started to lead her away.

"Knock yourselves out," Dorthy replied, turning to help someone else.

OoOoOoO

Nick led Sara to an isolated corner of the lobby, away from Greg and Sofia. Turning to her, he fixed her with a steady gaze. "Sara? What was that woman…?"

"Dorthy."

"Yeah, Dorthy. What was she going on about, with you being here last night with a guy that she described as being Grissom? Is there something you're not telling us?"

"Nick! No! I wasn't here last night. And as far as I know, Griss wasn't here last night either. And I told you, I have been here with Grissom –" Nick's eyes got wide. "Seven years ago. When he set me up while I was getting settled in. But Grissom and I have not been here 'together', alright?" Nick nodded, and Sara smiled at him. "Good. Let's go see if any of these employees know our guy."

They headed back to where Sofia and Greg were standing. "Okay, desk clerk was a bust," Nick reported. "And the manager is on vacation in Hawaii. How about you guys? Find anything?"

"No," Greg replied. "No one knows this guy. And it doesn't help that we don't even know who he is either."

Sara patted him on the back. "It's okay, Greggo. We'll figure it out. Nick, you and I will start our own round of showing the guy's picture around." She let go of Greg and pointed to the far side of the lobby.

"Alright. If you two need anything, just call, okay?" Nick told them over his shoulder, following Sara. Sofia and Greg nodded, and went back to asking if anyone had seen their vic.

Walking over to the opposite side of the lobby, Nick pulled an autopsy picture out of his kit. "Alright… let's go get an identity," he muttered.

An elevator opened up beside them, revealing a young man pushing a room service cart. He stopped to stare at the two criminalists before violently pushing the cart at Sara and sprinting down the hall.

She winced as the cart slammed into her side, but managed to yell out, "Sofia! Suspect on the move!"

Nick was closer, and ran after the man, with Sofia quickly coming up behind them. When Sofia rounded the corner, she saw Nick sitting on the suspect, holding him. "Nick! Have you patted him down?" she asked, pulling out her walkie-talkie to call for back-up.

"All clear. No weapons," Nick replied, breathing hard.

Sara and Greg came rushing down the hall. "Nick!" Sara called. "Are you alright?" He stood and pulled the man up with him. Sofia held the man at gunpoint, should he try to run again. "Greg, stay with Sofia until back-up arrives, okay?" Sara ordered, leading Nick away.

She took his arm and pulled him along with her to the far end of the hall. "Nicky, you did a great job. Are you sure you're alright?" He was still breathing hard.

"Yeah, Sara, I'm good. Thanks. What about you? I saw the cart slam into you."

She gave him a small smile and straightened out his jacket. Ignoring the bruise forming on her side, she said, "I'm alright. You had a good run there. I think I'll be okay."

"Right. Let's get back to our guy. Sofia's back-up is here." He turned away from her, heading back down the hall.

Sara followed Nick back down the hall to where Sofia and Greg were standing with back-up. "You are under the arrest for the murder of Sean Bristonian," Sofia said, watching as handcuffs were slapped onto the suspect's wrists.

"But I didn't do it," the man said, looking terrified.

"Shut up," Sofia snapped at the man. "You do have the right to remain silent. And I suggest you comply by that right."

"How did you know who our vic was?" Sara asked, coming up behind Nick.

"Dr. Robbins. He just paged me now with dental records," Greg answered.

"And who's our runaway?" Nick asked.

"Sydney Walker," Sofia said, coming to join the group. "Ex-best friend of Bristonian." She was holding Walker's wallet.

"What do you mean, 'ex-best friend'?" Sara asked slowly.

"Walker, our runaway, and Bristonian, our vic, used to be friends." Sofia pulled some pictures out of the wallet. "See this blonde?" she asked.

"Who is she?" Greg asked in confusion.

"We don't know." Sofia pointed out that the woman had her arms around the suspect in what could only be classified as a lover's embrace. "It's obvious that these two were a couple. But," she paused. "These pictures are all from 2003 or older. In Bristonian's wallet, there were pictures of Blondie and him. Same type of pictures. And Walker had pictures of Sean in the back pockets. Looks like they were friends… but…" she trailed off.

"But Blondie got tired of Walker and went to the arms of Bristonian." Nick finished. "Looks to me like Walker was not pleased that is girl would leave him for his best friend."

"A crime of passion, if you will," Sofia suggested.

Sara nodded. "A crime of passion. I'd have to agree with you Sofia. Definitely looks that way." She stole a glance at her watch and grinned. "Well guys, technically, shift is over and this is your case to finish. I'm going to go check on Grissom, see how he's doing."

Neither Greg nor Nick dared mention the fact that she was going to see him outside of work was highly out of the ordinary for both of them. They were smarter than that.

"Alright. But will you be coming back? Or do you want us to go ahead and finish this?" Nick asked.

"You know what? It's your case. You can finish it. I have faith in you. Besides, I've got to make sure Griss didn't keel over and die after I left his place." She grinned at her coworkers shocked expressions. "Don't worry. It was only a headache. I'll see you tonight." Sara gave them a small wave and headed for the exit.

Sofia followed her to the door. "Sara? Where is Grissom? Why are you working our case, and not yours?"

Why are you full of so many freaking questions? A small voice in the back of her head reminded her that Sofia was a detective. It was her job to ask questions.

"He's at home with a migraine, and possibly the flu. My case was ruled suicide. Grissom said he wanted my help on your case. Now I really have to go. I'll see you tonight."

Sara didn't look back as she pushed through the revolving door and headed out of the hotel.